Thursday, January 26, 2012

The American Alpine Institute just received the following press release from the American Alpine Club:

American Alpine Club Announces One-of-a-Kind Boston
Giveaway

Enter by February 6 for a chance to win special AAC Annual
Benefit Dinner prizes and access

Golden, CO—Today The American Alpine Club—dedicated to
knowledge, inspiration, conservation and advocacy for the climbing
community—released a chance to win a prize package so unique that it
cannot be bought. The giveaway will offer one winner the following
items, redeemable in Boston at the 2012 Annual Benefit Dinner on March
3:

• Two VIP Passes to the Annual Dinner. The VIP reception,
overlooking Boston Harbor, is an intimate gathering of North America’s
most accomplished climbers and mountaineers. The guest list includes
Jack Tackle, Tom Hornbein, Janet Bergman, John Bragg, Jimmy Surette, and
more.

• Ice Axe signed in person by the Saser Kangri II team. Freddie
Wilkinson, Mark Richey, and Steve Swenson—the evening’s keynote
presenters—recently summited the world’s second-highest unclimbed
mountain and will sign a special axe to the winner.

• $100 toward the Silent Auction, which includes
climbing art, one-of-a-kind trips, and gear packages from The North
Face, Mountain Hardwear, and Outdoor Research.

• AAC backpack filled with goodies, including a signed
hardback of One Mountain Thousand Summits, the award-winning book
by Wilkinson. At the dinner, he will premiere The Old Breed, a
video masterpiece about the Saser Kangri II expedition. Watch Trailer

Every person who buys a ticket to the 2012 Annual Benefit
Dinner by February 6th automatically will be entered to win this
giveaway package!

The Annual Benefit Dinner is the AAC’s signature and largest
annual event. In addition to fine dining and entertainment, the Dinner
mingles climbers of all generations and abilities to celebrate the
vibrant state of this 110-year-old organization. The event will be held
in Boston at the Seaport Hotel and will celebrate a year of change and
success through the theme of Partnership: Climbing through the
Generations.

“In line with our theme, the weekend’s feature presentation
will share the inspiring story of men and women from different
generations climbing together in one of the world’s last uncharted
places,” said Erik Lambert, Information & Marketing Director for the
AAC. “The giveaway is an added incentive to bring younger climbers and
more seasoned explorers together, celebrating the shared experience of
the climbing life.”

Following dinner, Boston native Mark Richey (age 53) and
climbing partners Freddie Wilkinson (age 32) and Steve Swenson (age 57)
will share inspiration from their August 2011 Saser Kangri II
expedition. They reached the 7,518-meter summit of the second-highest
unclimbed mountain in the world—one of the last frontiers of Himalayan
climbing.

Every ticket sold helps The American Alpine Club raise funds to
improve its programs: protecting and preserving the places we climb,
bringing climbers together, expanding information resources, grants,
lodging, and more. Founded by a Boston native in 1902, the AAC has
advocated for climbers throughout the generations, with a progressive
implementation of new programs. In 2011 the Club:• Hired staff around the country to ensure that the AAC is
vibrant in your backyard. These Regional Coordinators regularly connect
with Members by hosting local events, conservation projects, and more.
Sarah Garlick supports the Northeast Region from North Conway, NH.• Expanded its Member benefits to include rescue insurance, gym
and gear discounts, and new and improved places for climbers to stay,
such as the rebuilt Snowbird Hut in Alaska and the new AAC Clubhouse in
Kathmandu, Nepal.• Purchased 40 acres of land on the rim of West Virginia’s New
River Gorge. The AAC isworking with local conservation and climbing organizations to
break ground this year on a Climbers’ Campground with amenities walking
distance from popular crags. • Launched a new website, bringing local communities together in a
moreuser-friendly and attractive online space.• And in 2012, the Club will break ground on a new Climbers’
Campground with easy access to climbing in New York’s Shawangunks.“The AAC is at its best when we can be helpful to climbers where
they climb—in their own backyards,” said Executive Director Phil Powers.
“Our Members in the Northeast raised their hands to host the Annual
Dinner this year. Regional staff and volunteers are working together to
make it a truly top-notch event with a great local flavor. This is just
one example of how the AAC is changing. We’re listening to our Members
and helping them build what they want from the ground up.” For more information and tickets, visit americanalpineclub.org/2012dinner

To encourage younger climbers to attend this gathering of the
generations, those 28 and younger may purchase tickets at half price.

About The American Alpine ClubThe American Alpine Club provides knowledge and inspiration,
conservation and advocacy, and logistical support for the climbing
community. The AAC advocates for American climbers domestically and
around the world; provides grants and volunteer opportunities to protect
and conserve the places we climb; hosts local and national climbing
festivals and events; publishes two of the world’s most sought-after
climbing annuals, The American Alpine Journal and Accidents in
North American Mountaineering; cares for the world’s leading
climbing library and country’s leading mountaineering museum; manages
the Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch as part of a larger lodging network for
climbers; and annually gives $80,000+ toward climbing, conservation, and
research grants to adventurers who travel the world.

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